CruiserBruce

That is a domestic flight, so 2 hours in advance is fine. That is sort of important info...

Try asking over on the Northern Europe board, here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/116-northern-europe-amp-baltic-sea/ Several local residents that have knowledge. The hotel will hold your bags. You are just a couple blocks from most of the sights, including Tivoli.

There have been many discussions on the topic. You can upgrade only on board, and BEFORE you buy your first beverage on the plan. I don't know the current cost...I think its about $10 per person per day.

Currently...next month, Thalys no longer is a single train from Amsterdam to Paris. You have to connect in Brussels. Not sure how that might affect you. Not a big deal...60 minute connection. This appears to be a recent change.

I think you only realistic choice at this point is Uber/Lyft.

Better yet, find your Roll Call here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/236-zuiderdam-roll-calls/

You could have declined the change and had them change you to a flight the day before. Or a full refund and book a different flight the day before.

The more important issue here is flying in on day of sailing. And you are illustrating very well the complications of flying that late. I wish you luck.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! I would start by suggesting you post over on the Carnival board, here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/133-carnival-cruise-lines/ All the Carnival experts hang out there. In general, I would say somewhat loud noises are possible in some of those locations at certain times, as you have identified. Conversely, you should ask over there where the quieter places are during some of those events. All ships have some quieter locations...they just aren't as commonly discussed.

Locations can be different. In the US, zeroing the ship and meeting with Immigration folk is required. Outside the US, typically there are no requirements, but occasionally someone reports a different experience. Hadn't heard about any B2B experiences in Canada, so wasn't sure where they fall.

Given there are dozens of hotels in Seattle, there is no quick and easy answer. Things like budget, mobility and other personal issues or preferences need to be considered. Not hard to do a little reading around. There is no one "easy" answer.

True. But in the MUC-BCN example you are losing only 90 minutes or so of "proper" business class, but gaining a lot of relatively uninterrupted sleep time.

The hop on hop off vendors are pretty solid. Suggest you book one that also offers a boat tour. Its about an hour...another look at Copenhagen. The boats can be very crowded.

To compare our experience with stopping in North America, as opposed to going to Europe non-stop, last summer we flew SFO-Toronto-Copenhagen. It was an award flight, so our choices were limited. We had a 7am flight out of SFO, meaning a very early get up to leave for the airport. This was with a planned 4 hour layover in Toronto. Originally scheduled to arrive in Copenhagen about 10am local time. However, our Toronto to Copenhagen left and arrived over 3 hours late. It is only a 6 or so hour flight, so with dinner and breakfast, there wasn't even 4 hours for attempts at sleep. Conversely, the SFO-MUC flight is close to 11 hours, so much more time to attempt sleep, which, at least for me, isn't too hard on a plane. That extra sleep really helps with time zone changes. That is a key part of the reasoning behind going non-stop to, and connecting in, Europe.

We usually try, and agree with the common recommendation here, to go all the way to Europe in your first segment. That would be an overnight flight, leaving from SFO in early afternoon, landing in Europe in the early to mid morning. Then connecting, which would put you in BCN usually in the early afternoon. You can the go directly to your hotel, and likely be able to check in. If your stop is in the US, that usually means an early day flight out of SFO, a longer layover, and typically a very early morning arrival in BCN Check the Delta/ATL/Air France flight. If you truly are flying Air France out of ATL, that would be another stop at CDG. Delta can take you from ATL non-stop to BCN. Personally, I would take the SFO-MUC flight. MUC is a wonderful airport to connect in. So much better than your other choices.

Significantly smaller than a R class HAL ship.

Take a look around the board...there are dozens of threads about hotels. Be aware...rates can be high in cruising season.

What Americans can, or can't bring back, are typically alcohol related.

Whether or not this is allowed is a Princess policy issue, not a port (US or not) issue. It doesn't matter if you are American, or in an American port. To find out if Princess allows it, ask on the Princess board, here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/119-princess-cruises/ Some reading on the Princess website may also reveal the Princess policy.

If you look around, this is discussed here frequently, and MANY threads discussing hotels. There are no hotels close to Pier 91. We stayed at the Hilton downtown, a taxi was a budget breaking (just kidding) $13 before tip. So stay downtown near the sites you might want to visit, and Uber or taxi to the port.

Holland America wasn't doing it last summer...

In your Delta record there should be a Westjet booking number. I don't know Delta's website, but I know on United there will be a place on the booking where it will say "Other Booking Numbers". The Westjet number would be under that link. Take a good thorough look around your booking. If you still don't see it, you will need to call Delta or EZAir.

Being as HAL only stops at Egypt once or twice a year, and given the recent Covid issues...not sure how "recent" the experience will be.

How did you book this cruise? Usually the items you mention show up on your invoice, but not on the website. Your shore excursion credits show appear on the website.

Highly unlikely prices will come down. The cheaper fare buckets are the first to be sold. And demand is climbing rapidly.